Valve



May l5, 1956 o. F. CARLSON 2,745,628

VALVE Filed Nov. 17, 1952 IN V EN TOR. M

United States Patent C VALVE Oscar F. Carlson, Evanston, Ill.

Application November 17, 1952, Serial No. 320,845

2 Claims. (Cl. 251-83) The present application relates to improvementsin valves and is a continuation in part of my copending application,Serial No. 247,734, tiled September 2l, 1951.

It is an object of the present invention to provide improved valvesincluding an inclined valve seat, a valve having a face movable towardand away from the seat, the valve having an annular groove in the saidface thereof, an O-ring seal positioned in said groove and adapted toprovide a live seal between the inclined valve seat and the face of thevalve, the valve having a cylinder portion adjacent the said facethereof extending through and guided for slidable movement by the memberdeiining the inclined valve seat, the valve being pressure responsive,and means for effecting actuation of said valve manually and/or by meansof various control instrumentalities.

A further object of the invention is the provision of improved valvesthat are economical of manufacture and assembly and at the same timeadapted for long service in control apparatus of high sensitivity andaccuracy.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent in the following detailed description f preferred embodimentsof the invention.

Now, in order to acquaint those skilled in the art with the manner ofmaking and using the improved valve of my invention, I shall describe,in connection with the accompanying drawings, several preferredembodiments of the valve and the manner of making and using the same.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal cross sectional view of oneembodiment of the improved valve of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a similar View of a second embodiment; and

Figure 3 is a similar view of a third embodiment.

For the sake of convenience, each embodiment `of the invention disclosedherein will be described in conjunction with reference numerals in ahundred series and in all views like tens and digits numbers will referto the same or similar parts.

Referring now to Figure 1, the first embodiment of the improved valve ofmy invention is shown as including a generally tubular body member 121Bprovided intermediate its ends with a radially inwardly extending flange122 defining a valve port. At one end thereof, the tubular body 120 isinternally threaded to provide a liuid port 128. To the opposite side ofthe valve port, the tubular body 120 is provided with a radical hole 132defining a fluid port. As will be apparent as the description proceeds,either port may be utilized as the inlet port of the valve. Intermediateits ends, the body 120 is provided with a radially outwardly extendingflange 134 by means of which the valve may be mounted on the wall of avessel or the like, preferably with the port defined by the radial hole132 disposed to the inside of the vessel. In such use, the valve maycomprise either an inlet or an outlet valve for the vessel. In onepreferred use, however, the valve is utilized as an outlet valve, inwhich case the axial port 128 comprises the valve outlet and the radialport 132 comprises the valve inlet. Accordingly, the ports 128 and 132will be referred to hereinafter as the outlet and inlet ports,respectively.

The ange 122 defining the valve port within the body is provided to theinlet port side thereof with an axially extending portion presenting anouter inclined surface or valve seat 138 facing toward the valve inlet.A valve member 1411, which is generally cylindrical, is slidablyreceived within the bore of the body 121) and is provided with acylindrical, preferably tubular, and portion 142 having a sliding lit inthe valve port. As is clearly shown, the tubular portion 142 extendsthrough and is guided for sliding movement by the flange 122 definingthe valve port. To the valve seat side of the flange 122, the valvemember 141? is provided with a radially outwardly extending ange 144having one side thereof facing toward the valve seat. In the face of thevalve member, an annular groove 146 is formed, the groove beinggenerally V-shaped in cross section. Disposed within the groove 146 is aconventional resilient C-ring seal 14S, a torus formed of rubber or arubber like material, adapted to engage against the valve seat. Due tothe inclination of the valve seat, the O-ring will be biased outwardlyeach time the same is moved into engagement with theV seat to provide ahighly eliicient seal between the sides of the V groove in the face ofthe valve member and the inclined valve seat. Since the resilient O-ringis biased outwardly or flexed each time the valve is closed, the sealwill be alive or plastic at all times and will insure an active andeffective seal despite long periods of use.

Adjacent the radial flange 144, the tubular portion 142 of the valvemember 141) is provided with a plurality of radial holes 152 adapted toestablish communication between the opposite sides of the valve portwhen the valve 149 and the seal 148 are moved away from the inclinedvalve seat 138. To the side of the sealing flange 144 thereof oppositethe tubular portion 142, the valve member is provided with a reducedaxial integral stem 156 extending toward and beyond the end of the body.At the end thereof, the body 121) is provided with an outwardlyextending radial flange 158 to which is secured, suitably by screws orrivets 159, an end plate or diaphragm 161B having a central aperturetherein through which the valve stem 156 extends, the stem being guidedfor sliding movement by the diaphragm. The diaphragm or end plate i,around the central aperture therethrough, is provided with a pluralityof inwardly extending projections 162 stamped and bent out of the bodythereof and forming a seat for one end of a spring 164 which engages thevalve member 141i normally to bias the valve member to its seat and toeffect a seal between the flange 144 and the inclined valve seat 138.

At the free end thereof, the stem 156 is provided with a head 171iadapted to be engaged by one end of a bell crank 172 which is pivotallysupported by a bracket 174 which in turn is supported by the body.Preferably, the bracket 174 comprises a tab or a pair of tabs stampedand bent out of the body of the diaphragm 160. However, it will beappreciated that a separate bracket member may be provided and securedto the body means by one of the screws 159. As will be apparent, thefree end of the bell crank 172 may be moved, downwardly, manually -or byother control instrumentalities, to effect actuation of the valve.Downward movement of the free end of the bell crank 172 will be electiveto open the valve and when the bell crank is released, the spring 164will return the valve member 140 to its seat.

In use, the valve of Figure 1 may be used for various purposes, one ofwhich, for example, is as an air valve disposed adjacent the top of anexpansion tank for hot water heating systems and wherein the bell crank172 is operatively associated with a oat for actuation in response tothe water level in the tank, as is disclosed in my said copendingapplication. The body member 120 and the diaphragm 160 comprise bodymeans having an inlet, an outlet and defining a valve port between theinlet and. the outlet and an inclined valve seat adjacent or surroundingthe valve port. The valve member is guided for sliding movement withrespect to the valve seat by means of the tubular portion 242 thereofsliding within the valve port and the stem thereof sliding within thebore provided in the diaphragm 369. As the valve is Opened and closed,the inclined valve seat 238 will insure flexing of the O-ring to providelive sealing action between the valve and the seat. While the usereferred to hereinbefore is a preferred use of the particular embodimentof the valve of the present invention, it will be appreciated that theport 22S may be utilized as an inletV port and that the port L32 maycomprise the outlet port, in which case the valve 14d will be responsiveto iluid pressures within the inlet and may be adapted to be actuated inresponse to fluid pressure depending upon the calibration of the spring164.

Referring now to Figure 2, l have shown therein a pressure responsivevalve including means for effecting actuation thereof manually and meansfor effecting actuation. thereof by means of various controlinstrumentalities, and wherein manual actuation is effectedindependently of the control instrumentalities and actuation by thecontrol instrumentalities is effected independently of the manualactuating means. ln this embodiment of my invention, the valve includesa body member 62% having an inwardly directed radial flange 622 defininga valve port within the body 62). At one end thereof, the body 620 isprovided with an end face portion 624i adapted for the reception of abody end plate 626 which may be suitably secured to the body by means ofscrews 627 or the like. The body member 620 is so formed as to provide aradial port 628 therein, which will be referred to hereinafter as thevalve outlet port. At the end thereof opposite the end plate 626, thebody 620 is provided with a bell orV dome shaped, cap-like portion 630providing a radially disposedV port 632, which will be referred toherein as the valve inlet port. Adjacent the cap-like portion 630, thebody member 62d is provided with a radial flange or shoulder portion 634having tapped bores therein and by means of which the valve may besuitably secured to the side wall of a pressure vessel or the like withthe cap-like portion 630 disposed to the interior of the vessel.

The inwardly extending iiange 622 is provided with a tapered counterboredefining an inclined valve seat 633 surrounding the valve port definedby the flange. A valve member 640 is disposed within the body member 620for reciprocable movement with respect to the valve seat 633. The valvemember 64@ includes a cylindrical and preferably tubular end portion 642extending through and guided for sliding movement by the valve port. Atthe inner end of the tubular portion 662, the valve member 640 isprovided with a radially outwardly extending flange 644- having a faceopposing the inclined valve seat 638. The valve flange 644 is providedin the said face thereof with an annular groove 646, which is preferablyV-shaped in cross section, adapted for the reception of an O-ring seal64S. To provide for uniform seating of the O-ring 643, a plurality ofbreather ports 65@ are provided in the valve flange to establishcommunication between the groove 64-6 and the outlet side of the valve.Adjacent the radial flange 644, the tubular portion 642 of the valvemember is provided with a plurality of radial holes 652 to establishcommunication between the opposite sides of the valve port when thevalve is open.

To the side of the flange 644., opposite the tubular portion` 642, thevalve member 64d is provided with a reduced, Vintegral axial stem, whichis slidably received within a bore provided in an axial extension 666 ofthe end plate 626. A spring 664 is conned between the end plate 626 andthe flange 644 of the valve memberV normally to bias the valve member toits seat. At the end thereof facing into the tubular portion of thevalve member, the valve stem 656 is provided with a bore adapted for theslidable reception of one end portion of an actuator rod 668. The freeend of the rod 66S is enlarged and bifurcated for the reception betweenthe bifurcations thereof of one end of a bell crank 672 which ispivotally supported intermediate its ends on an extension 674 of thecap-like portion of the body member 620.

The valve shown in Figure 2 is adapted for manual actuation from theexterior thereof, that is, from the exterior of that portion of thevalve which is adapted to be disposed exteriorly of the tank with whichthe valve is adapted for association. To this end, the axial extension66d on the end plate 626 is provided with a continuous bore throughwhich the valve stem 656 extends to the exterior of the valve bodymeans. Within the axial extension 660, an annular internal recess isprovided within which an O-ring 676 is positioned tov provide a sealbetween the body means and the valve stem 656. To the exterior of thebody means, the valve stem 656 is provided with a reduced end portionprovided at the free end thereof with a head 678 adapted toV be engagedby an actuating lever 680. The actuating lever 680y has, a slot thereinthrough which the reduced portion of the. valve stem freely passes. Theactuating lever is preferably U-shaped in cross section with the saidslot being provided in the base wall thereof so that as the lever ismoved away from the body means or end plate, the base wall of the samewill engage the head 678 to effect actua-l tion of the valve member. Atone end thereof, the base wall portion of the U-shaped lever 680 is cutaway so as to provide a bifurcated end portion 682 by means of' whichthe lever 680 is pivotally connected to an outwardly extendingprojection 684 provided on the end' plate 626. As is clearly shown inFigure 2, the base wall of the lever 680 is apertured where necessary toaccommodate passage of the heads of the screws 627.

In use, the valve member 640 is adapted to be fluid pressure actuatedindependently of the bell crank 672l and independently of the actuatinglever 680, since the actuator rod 668 is slidably positioned within thebore of the valve stem and the reduced portion of the valvey stem isslidable within the slot provided in the base wall of the actuatinglever 680. Due to the slidable association of the actuator rod 668 withthe valve stem, the lever 680 is adapted to effect actuation of thevalve member, that is, movement of the valve member away from its seat,independently of the actuator rod 668-A and the bell crank 672.Likewise, the bell crank 672 is adapted to effect actuation of the valvemember independently of the lever 680 due to the fact that the reduced?portion of the valve stem passes freely through the slot provided in thebase wall of the lever. As will be appreciated from Figure 2 and theforegoing description, the valve is made in a particularly economicalmanner and provides highly efficient valve actuating means.

In Figure 3, I have shown a modification of the em bodiment of theinvention shown in Figure 2, wherein the valve is substantiallyidentical to the valve of Figure 2 but does not include the cap-likeportion 630, the bell crank 672 and the actuator rod 668; The embodimentof the invention shown in Figure 3 is particularly adapted for fluidpressure actuation and manual actuation,l as will become apparent. Asshown, the valve'comprises a body 720 having a radially inwardlyextending liange 722 delining a valve port. At one end thereof, thebody- 720 is provided with an end face 724 to which a body end plate 726is suitably secured by means of screws 727 or the like. As will beobvious, the end plate 726i of the Figure 3 embodiment of the inventionis the same as the end plate 626 in the Figure 2 embodiment of theinvention. In the Figure 3 embodiment, the body 720 is so formed so asto provide a radial port 728 compris`r ing a uid outlet port and anaxial port 732 comprising an inlet port. Both of the ports 728 and 732are preferably threaded for the reception of pipes or other conduitmeans.

To the outlet side thereof, the radially extending flange 722 isprovided with a tapered counter bore dening an inclined valve seat 738with which a valve member 740 is adapted for cooperation. The valvemember 740 includes a cylindrical and preferably tubular end portion 742extending through and guided for sliding movement by the valve portdefined by the flange 722. The valve member 740 includes a radiallyoutwardly extending ange 744 having a face opposed to the inclined valveseat 738. In the said face thereof, the valve flange 744 is providedwith an annular groove 746, preferably V- shaped cross section, Withinwhich an O-ring 748 is adapted to be positioned. The valve ange 744 isprovided with breather ports 750 to accommodate uniform seating of theO-ring 748 within the groove 746. To accommodate uid flow to theopposite sides of the valve port when the valve is open, the tubularportion 742 of the valve member is provided with radial holes 752.

The valve member 740 is provided with a reduced axial integral stem 756which is adapted to be received within and guided for sliding movementin a bore provided in an axial extension 760 on the end plate 726. Aspring 764 is conned between the end plate '726 and the valve member 740normally to bias the valve to closed position.

The axial extension 760 of the end plate 726 is provided with aninternal annular recess adapted for the reception of an O-ring 776providing a seal between the body means of the valve and the valve stem756. Exteriorly of the end plate 726, the valve stem 756 is providedwith a reduced end portion terminating in a head 778. The reducedportion of the valve stem passes through a slot provided in the basewall of a generally U-shaped actuating lever 780, which lever isprovided with a bifurcated end portion 782 adapted for pivotalconnection to an outwardly extending projection 784 provided on the endplate 726. The operation and use of the valve shown in Figure 3 will beobvious from the hereinbefore description of the embodiment of theinvention shown in Figure 2.

In Figure l, the inclined valve seat is shown as being inclineddownwardly and away from the valve port, while in Figures 2 and 3, theinclined valve seat is shown as being inclined downwardly and inwardlytoward the valve port. In practice, either inclination of the valve seatmay be utilized as desired, the primary consideration being to providesome inclination to insure the maintenance of a live seal between thevalve and its seat during prolonged periods of use of the valve. Inparticular, the inclined valve seat provided by the present invention isadapted to effect a flexing of the seal upon each actuation of the valvemember so as to insure a uniform and efective seating of the sealbetween the inclined valve seat and the annular groove provided in thevalve member, as pointed out hereinbefore, the annular groove providedin the valve member is preferably of generally V- shape in cross sectionso as to insure an effective seating of the O-ring in the groove. Also,the provision of a V-groove denes an air space behind the O-ring so thatwhen the breather ports are provided in the valve member perfectlyuniform and effective seating of the O-ring within the groove isinsured.

As will be apparent from the foregoing, the present invention providesimproved valves of extremely practical construction wherein the valvemember is positively guided in its reciprocation with respect to theimproved valve seat provided by the present invention and wherein thevalve member may be pressure actuated independently of various actuatinginstrumentalities. In the Figure 2 embodiment of the present invention,for example, pressure actuation may be accomplished independently of oatactuation and manual actuation, manual actuation may be eectedindependently of oat actuation, and float actuation may be effectedindependently of manual actuation.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that the present inventionprovides an extremely practical and improved valve enjoying substantialeconomies in manufacture and assembly. Also, the valves, due to theirsimple and practical construction, and due to the provision of a liveseal, will perform eiciently and accurately throughout prolonged periodsof use.

While I have described what I regard to be preferred embodiments of myinvention, it will be apparent that various changes, rearrangements andmodifications may be made therein without departing from the scope ofthe invention, as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A valve comprising body means having an inlet and an outlet anddefining a valve port between said inlet and said outlet, said bodymeans defining an inclined valve seat surrounding said valve port, avalve member slidably mounted within said body means and having atubular portion slidably guided within said valve port, said valve meanshaving a radial face opposing said inclined valve seat, said valvemember having an annular groove in said face, a resilient O-ring sealpositioned in said annular groove and including a portion extendingaxially outward of said groove toward said valve seat, whereby said 0-ring is adapted to provide a resilient seal between said valve memberand said valve seat, to close off said port, said valve seat withrespect to the axially extending portion of said O-ring defining aninclined surface biasing said O-ring in a generally radial directionupon engagement of said O-ring with said valve seat, whereby said O-ringis ilexed radially upon each opening and closing of the valve, saidvalve member having a stern extending from the surface thereof oppositesaid face of said member, said body means having a portion providing abore within which said valve stem is slidably guided, resilient meansconfined between said body means and said valve member normally urgingsaid valve member into engagement with said valve seat, said stemextending through said body means to the exterior thereof and includinga head to the exterior of said body means, and an actuating leverpivotally mounted on said body means to the exterior thereof and havingan aperture therein through which said stem freely extends, said leverupon movement away from said body member being adapted to engage saidhead on said valve stem to move said valve member away from said valveseat, said valve member being adapted to be actuated by tiuid forceexerted on the said face thereof independently of .said lever.

2. A valve comprising body means having an inlet and an outlet anddefining a valve port between said inlet and said outlet, said bodymeans defining an inclined valve seat surrounding said valve port, avalve member slidably mounted within said body means and having atubular portion slidably guided within said valve port, said valvemember having a radial face opposing said inclined valve seat, saidvalve member having an annular groove in said face, a resilient O-ringseal positioned within said annular groove and including a portionextending axially outward of said groove toward said valve seat, wherebysaid O-ring is adapted to provide a resilient seal between said valvemember and said valve seat to close off said port, said valve memberhaving an axial stem extending away from the said face thereof, saidbody means having a portion providing a bore within which said valvestem is slidably guided, resilient means confined between said bodymeans and said valve member normally to bias said valve member intoengagement with said valve seat, said stem extending through said bodymeans to the exterior thereof and including a head to the exterior ofsaid body means, an actuating lever pivotally mounted on said bodymember to the exterior thereof and having an aperture therein throughwhich said stem freely extends, said lever upon movement awa-y'r fromsaid body member being adapted to engage said head on said stem to movesaid valve member away from said valve seat, said valve stem having abore therein adjacent the said face of said valve member, an actuatoryrod slidably positioned in said bore in said stem, andf a bell crankpivot-ally mounted on said body means andf operatively associated withsaid actuator rod, said bell crank being adapted to actuate said rod tomove said valve member awayy from said valve seat, said valve memberl()` being adapted to be actuated by said lever` independently of saidvrod and said bell crank and being adapted to be actuated bysaid bellcrank independently of said lever, and being adapted to be actuated byfluid force exerted onthe saidl face of said valve member independentlyof 15 both said rod and bell crank and said lever.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,216,963 Dodd Feb. 20, 1917 193 8l 1942 1947 1949 1949v 195 1 195 11952Y 1952

